Aido strides were long as he led Akane through The Moon Dorms, to Kaname's room. The curious glances the new Vampire received agitated Aido, but his glare kept overly inquisitive onlookers away. Akane stuck close to his side, seeking comfort in the only familiar presence in the dorm so, he had no worries that he would lose her. Her scent was so distinct, distinguishing her from the rest of the Night Class students they passed, also, her anxious heartbeat was lout to his years, revealing how closely she was walking with him.
Akane shadowed Aido through the corridors, discreetly cataloguing every new and strange sensation she noticed, all while keeping her eyes on the rich, red carpet, which appeared to run the length of the building. One such sensation came from the carpet beneath her feet. It felt vastly different from any other time she'd walked barefoot before. She could feel every fibre wilt at every step she took. Every hair on her body seemed to sway with her movements, but the cold was the strangest. It wasn't the cold Akane remembered. It didn't send so much of a chill down her spine, but felt hard, like a solid object her body had to contend with.
Heightened senses of touch and temperature. She listed. Sound too, Akane analysed as she walked, giving fleeting glances to those she passed. Continuing her musings as she followed Aido's sure footsteps, as he guided her to her Master, a term she would be vehemently rejecting. All too soon, they reached the large, ornately carved set of mahogany double doors that lead to Kaname Kuran's private room. Aido knocked twice in quick succession, the thumps, vibrating through the solid wood. Akane held her breath.
The door creaked slightly as Kaname opened it. He wore the black, buttoned-up shirt and white trousers of The Night Class uniform but his blazer lay discarded, thrown over the back of a chair within his room.
"Thank you for coming, Miss Nakamura. Please, come in," he greeted, gesturing with a subtle wave of his hand, and stepping aside, inviting Akane inside. Aido stiffened at the obvious lack of an invitation, and waited, impatiently for one to come. "Thank you, Aido. I will see Miss Nakamura gets back to her room," and with that, the door was closed on him.
Aido fought the displeasure at the exclusion. Akane was supposed to be his responsibility, after all. Granted, he couldn't give her the blood she needed right now, and she should probably talk to Kaname at some point about their connection. But he would have told her anything and everything she needed to know. He was supposed to be the one to guide and teach her. He wanted to be the one to reassure her when needed. He didn't want her turning to Kaname. Why give the responsibility, only to intervene?
He shook the frustration from his mind. He was being irrational, just unhappy that he was separated from Akane so soon after she'd awoke. There was no place in this situation for an emotion that felt suspiciously like jealousy. His mind did quietly ponder, however, whether he felt this way due to Kaname's exclusion of him, or that Kaname had been the one to taken Akane away from him.
Aido had been so lost in thought, burning a hole through Kaname's door, that he startled at the sudden voice that called him from his daze.
"Miss Nakamura. I said, at least her presence will be easier on us now," Ichijo repeated, stepping up beside Aido. The younger Noble quirked a brow in question at this. "Her scent," Ichijo attempted to clarify but received the same perplexed look from Aido. "It's still very appealing, but not as strong as when she was Human. It'll make her stay here easier for us, right?" Aido's eyebrows rose slowly, while his brain ran a mile a minute, taking in and digestion what Ichijo had said.
The politely confused yet expectant look on Ichijo's face encouraged Aido to respond.
"Yeah… Lord Kaname said he'd take Miss Nakamura back to her room. Where will she be staying?"
"Oh, Kaname asked to get the single room on the second floor ready, down the corridor from the staircase, so…" Ichijo replied, gesturing to the bedding he carried under his arms, and the pair of maids accompanying him, laden with cleaning materials to quickly get the disused room ready for use.
Ichijo attempted to placate his friend, attributing his troubled appearance to being upset that Akane wouldn't be staying in the empty room next to his and Kain's.
"Not to worry. Miss Nakamura will be at the end of the corridor, so it won't be far for her to find you if she needs anything." Aido blinked, his brain re-engaging with the conversation and the Vampire in his company.
He nodded in a show of accepting the reassurance, setting a thoughtful frown on his brow as he did so.
"Well, good day."
"Of course. It's been a long night. Good day, Aido." Aido acknowledged the friendly smile with a nod, excusing himself and retreating to his room. Kain was showering, so, Aido was free to change into his sleepwear and tidy his bed in peace, before climbing under the previously lavender-scented sheets.
All the while he thought about Ichijo's words tumbled through his mind, whizzing around in a dizzying circle. Even as Kain exited the bathroom, drew the curtains, and fell into his bed to sleep, Aido lay, eyes staring at the ceiling as scenarios, possibilities and impossibilities ran through his head.
Akane's scent was engulfing him after she'd laid for so long in his bed. It was torture, but he still buried his face into his pillows and inhaling deeply, sighing in contentment as the burn in his throat intensified. Her scent is… weaker? he questioned, furrowing his brow in thought, and groaning as he welcomed a sleepless day.